Case for displaying shirts.



No. 64|,0|5. Patented lan. 9, i900.

J. B. HOBTUN.

CASE FOR DISPLAYING SHIRTS.

(Applcatu'n led Mar. 31, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT CAS-E FOR DISPLAYING SHIRTS.

'srncinrcArioN forming part or Letters patent No. 641,015, dated january' 9, 19oo;

Appncann inea nach 31,1898.

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JONATHAN BLAIR Hon- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Wilkesborough, in the county of Wilkes and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Suspended Display- Oabinet, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a suspended cabinet for displaying articles of wearing-apparel, especially of the class known as gentlemens furnishingsg7 and the object in view is to provide an improved type of cabinet which will not take up counter and floor space in a store, and at the same time serve to display the contents to good advantage and to protect the4 sanne from dust.

The display-cabinet of the present invention is essentially a suspended case having a back wall hinged to the lower edge thereof and adapted to be opened in a downward direction for access to the inside of the case, and with such a case is combined a suspension appliance, to be hereinafter fully described, which serves a twofold purposeto wit, in holding the case in a level condition and at any desired height and to keep the hinged back securely closed when the caseis elevated to its suspended position.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a display-cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation thereof.

The same numerals are employed to designate like parts in each of the figures.

The display-cabinet which I have invented is designed to be suspended in a level condition at any desired height within a store or any part of the latter, so that it will not take up room or space on the floor, a counter, or other surface. The caselis closed on its top, bottom, and ends. The back 2 of the case is essentially hinged tothe lower edge thereof, as indicated at 4 in Fig. 2, whereby the back is adapted to open in a downward direction access is to be obtained to the interior thereof for the purpose of inserting or removing merchandise in the cabinet. In theembodiment of the invention shown by the accom-. panying drawings the back 2 is represented as an open or skeleton frame 5, having a cov- Serial No. 675,953. (No model.)

ering 6'L of fabric or other suitable material. The front of the cabinet is covered by a transparent pane 3, of glass, which is set in the case 1 a short distance from the front edge thereof, and this transparent front is arranged in a vertical direction and is secured rmly in place within the case, so that dust and dirt will not accumulate on the front to obstruct the view of the contents of the cabinet.

The cabinet represented by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is shown as supplied with various articles of mens wearingapparel, including two series of shirts arranged one above and in rear of the other, collars, Suspenders, and neckwear; but it is to be understood that any kinds of merchandise may be placed in the cabinet for display thereby. In order to support the articles Within the cabinet for display to the best advantage, I have equipped the case l with the notched rail-supporting blocks 6 7. A pair of the blocks 6 are secured to the respective ends of the case in the same horizontal plane, and a like pair of the blocks 7 are secured to the respective ends of the case in like relation and at a suitable distance below the firstmentioned pair of blocks 6, the blocks of the upper and lower pair being parallel and separated by an intervening space. (See Fig. 2.) Each block is provided with a notch 7, located near the transparent front 3, and the block is also provided with a notch 8 in rear of the notch 7 and contiguous to the hinged back 2, said notches opening upwardly through the edge of the block and each notch, furthermore, being rectangular. rlhe blocks of the upper pair are secured to the opposite end Walls of the case for the notches therein to aline or coincide longitudinally of the case, and in corresponding notches of each pair of blocks is adapted to be tted a horizontal bar or rail, from which the merchandise may be suspended. In Fig. 2 I have shown a rail 9, occupying the front notches 7 8 of the upper pair of blocks 6; but it is evident that said rail 9 may be litted in the rear notches 8 of said upper blocks'. In the same figure of the drawings the rail l0 is shown as fitted in the front notches 7 of the lower pair of blocks 7. In displaying such articles as soft and stiff bosom shirts (represented in Fig. l) the rail l0 is iitted in the front notches of the lower IOO blocks, while the rail 9 is fitted in the rear notches 8 of the upper blocks. The softbosom shirts are doubled around the lower rail 10, while the stiff-bosom shirts are connected to the upper rail 9, whereby the shirts l are arranged in two series for display one above the other to the best advantage.

According to my invention it is necessary to employ a suspension device by which the cabinet may be raised above the floor or the counter, and this suspension device is constructed to coperate with the hinged back for securely holding the latter in its closed position when the case is in its raised suspended position. The suspension-cord ll lies above the top of the case, one end of said cord being attached permanently to an eye at one end of the case, while the other end of said cord is connected detachably, as by a hook,to another eye at the opposite end of the case. Suitable guide-sheaves 12 are fastened to the ceiling or other surface in the store or any part thereof, and the suspension-cablel 11 is led or reeved over these sheaves. An adjusting-cord 13 is fastened to the suspension-cord at a point midway between the sheaves, said suspensioncord being carried in rear of the case and its hinged back wall. On the under side or bottom of the case at a point in front of the hinge 4 is secured a hook 14, to which may be connected a ring or eye on the free end of the adjusting-cord 13. The eyes by which the ends of the suspension-cord 11 are held are attached to the top of the case near the ends thereof and midway between the front and back edges of the case, whereby the case may be suspended in a level condition. It is to be observed that the back 4 is hinged to the lower edge of the case to fold upwardly against the rear side thereof and that the intermediate portion of the suspension-cord bears against the hinged back. This relation of the cord makes it confine the hinged back in its closed condition, although, if desired, suitable latches may be employed; but as these latches are liable to work loose or be come unfastened the suspension-cord prevents the back from opening accidentally. By hinging the back to the lower edge of the case it may be opened to permit access to the interior of the case without holding the back in a raised position, thus providing for unobstructed access to the contents of the case.

In the use of my cabinet it is lowered to rest upon a counter while being filled with the merchandise to be displayed, and the back is then closed and the adjusting-cord is drawn around the back to raise the case, the free end of said cord being connected with the fastener 14. In its suspended position the case is confined by the cord engaging the fastener and the hinged back is securely retained by pressure of the cord thereon. To lower the case, the cord 13 is released, whereupon the case descends, so that it may rest on a counter. The hinged back may now be turned in a downward direction for easy access to the case.

What I claim is- A suspended display-cabinet comprising a case closed at its top, bottom and ends and having a transparent vertical front, a back hinged at its lower edge to the case and adapted to be folded downward below the latter, a suspension-cord attached at its ends to the top of the ease, spaced sheaves over which the cord is reeved, a fastener on the 'under side of the case and in front of the hinged connection of the back thereto, and an adj Listing-cord attached to the suspensioncord midway between the sheaves and connected detachably to the fastener, the intermediate portion of the suspension-cord passi ing in rear of the case and engaging with the hinged back thereof, to coniine the latter securely in place when the cabinet is elevated to its suspended position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JONATHAN BLAIR HORTON.

Witnesses:

H. W. HoRToN, R. W. GwYN. 

